A free University of Queensland online course helping non-native English speakers around the world kick-start their university education has attracted more than 200,000 learners in less than a year.
IELTSx: IELTS Academic Test Preparation was developed by the Institute of Continuing and TESOL Education (ICTE-UQ) to assist students preparing for assessment through the International English Language Testing System.
ICTE-UQ Director Julian Wilson said the course has helped students from all over the world.
“We are delighted to be able to help students through the free online IELTSx academic test preparation course.” he said.
“So far we’ve seen students from Andorra to Zimbabwe enrol, beginning to fulfil their education goals.”
IELTSx is UQ’s most popular single run of a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC).
Other blockbuster UQx courses with more than 100,000 learners include Write101x: English Grammar and Style, which will run again in July, and Think101x: The Science of Everyday Thinking, which is currently available in self-paced mode.
The self-paced course offers learners more than 80 hours of interactive practice materials covering the four skills tested by IELTS: listening, speaking, reading and writing.
UQx Director John Zornig said the free course was paying dividends for students.
“I love reading the course reviews where IELTSx learners report their successes in the IELTS Academic Test and thank UQ for having made this course available for free,” he said.
Ajit Singh, from Mumbai, India, took IELTSx prior to sitting the IELTS Academic tests.
“I am indebted to the course team and contributors for coming up with a wonderful and complete course,” he said.
“One of the most balanced and fun courses out there for every serious IELTS taker.”
Click here to register for IELTSx: IELTS Academic Test Preparation on edX.
Media: Catherine Bennett: c.bennett1@uq.edu.au, (07) 3346 0850.
